What is Mercury Retrograde?
I thought I would write about Mercury Retrograde as it as something many of you have heard about but maybe don’t know exactly what it means or how it potentially affects our lives. Forewarned is forearmed when it comes to this planetary influence!
Mercury retrograde happens a few times in a year (see the dates listed here), and usually lasts about three weeks, though its influence is also felt in the pre shadow period of two weeks leading up to it.
The term ‘retrograde’ comes from the fact that the planet appears to be moving backwards as all planets do (apart from the sun and moon).
Mercury retrograde happens a few times in a year (see the dates listed here), and usually lasts about three weeks, though its influence is also felt in the pre shadow period of two weeks leading up to it.
The term ‘retrograde’ comes from the fact that the planet appears to be moving backwards as all planets do (apart from the sun and moon).
How Does Mercury Retrograde Influence Us?
When mercury is retrograde, it is known to signify a period of mis-communication and mis-hap.
Computers freeze and play up, travel plans go wrong, things are lost in the mail, mechanics and appliances breakdown. There are mix ups, delays, errors, glitches, confusion and potentially chaos. Sounds great, yeah? It can be very frustrating to say the least.
The pre-shadow phase of two weeks leading up to Mercury Retrograde, is a time to wind things up - you will see that things seem to come up for review. See how you notice this in your life. You will probably get a natural urge to get things done, complete unfinished business or projects and tie up loose ends. Watch out for errors, miscalculations and miscommunication. Old communication issues will start to be pulled up from under the surface.
Mercury Retrograde can also leave a bit of an aftermath for a couple of weeks after it passes, so you might find that things seem a bit slow to pick up.
Computers freeze and play up, travel plans go wrong, things are lost in the mail, mechanics and appliances breakdown. There are mix ups, delays, errors, glitches, confusion and potentially chaos. Sounds great, yeah? It can be very frustrating to say the least.
The pre-shadow phase of two weeks leading up to Mercury Retrograde, is a time to wind things up - you will see that things seem to come up for review. See how you notice this in your life. You will probably get a natural urge to get things done, complete unfinished business or projects and tie up loose ends. Watch out for errors, miscalculations and miscommunication. Old communication issues will start to be pulled up from under the surface.
Mercury Retrograde can also leave a bit of an aftermath for a couple of weeks after it passes, so you might find that things seem a bit slow to pick up.
During Mercury Retrograde, it is not recommended to make any major decisions, start big projects, sign any contracts, form strict deadlines or begin something new during a retrograde period. However it is a good time to look over details, recheck things, revise, re-organize and repair. Things might come up to re-evaluate or re-do. Something lost might re-appear, and people might also re-enter your life. So pay attention to see what the retrograde brings for you! And try not to lose your cool. Note that your thinking processes might be in retrograde and at a slower pace.
Funnily enough, at the time of writing this, it was the very first day of the first retrograde for 2013. My car cut out and I lost control of the steering wheel and brakes, and almost drove into a church’s office windows (lol) – I can laugh about it now but I was pretty shaken up, upset and frustrated at the time and it made my day at work very difficult and stressful. This was followed by the hassle of putting the car in for service/repair!
The Positive Side of Mercury Retrograde
Let’s focus more on the positive aspects. It is a good time to rest, recover, reflect and reconnect with oneself and others. Relax, incubate, read, journal, be creative. It is the perfect reminder for us to slow down, breathe and not take things so seriously. Also, reflect on your inner world and listen to your intuition. If you are observant and open, you will notice a heightened spiritual awareness and receive revelations and synchronicity connected with fated events.
Tips to Survive & Thrive During Mercury Retrograde
Use the energy of the astrology sign in which mercury is retrograde for your own benefit, healing growth and eventual movement forward.
So, for example if Mercury is Retrograde in Aries, use the active warrior, doer & leadership qualities of Aries to make revisions. If it is in Pisces, tap more into your dreamy, intuitive side in order to enhance your reflections and allow in some powerful revelations. Watch out that things dont get too confusing or dishy washy.
OTHER TIPS:
- Avoid signing contracts
- Read small print carefully!
- Triple check information
- Clean up any loose ends
- Back up your computer data in advance!!!
- Try not to start anything new
- Be prepared for changes in travel plans
- Be prepared to get in touch with someone in your past
- Research ideas
- Prepare for miscommunications – Don’t take things people say personally
- Revamp, redo, re-examine unfinished, old or pending projects
- ‘RE’ everything, eg: re-view, re-do, re-vise, re-organise, re-vamp, re-examine, re-kindle…
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